ABC's Start Up & Untitled Jeremy Bronson; NBC's What About Barb?; and WGN America's Roadside Picnic.
NBC's WHAT ABOUT BARB?
- The broadcast network has ordered a pilot for a female-focused comedy based on the 1991 film What About Bob? starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. Joe Port and Joe Wiseman (The Crazy Ones, 1600 Penn) wrote the pilot for the single camera project. ABC Studios produces. The project revolves around a psychotherapist who tries to cut ties with her most overbearing patient but is unsuccessful and gains an annoying family member in the process.
ABC's UNTITLED JEREMY BRONSON PROJECT
- The network has handed out a pilot order to an untitled single camera comedy written by Jeremy Bronson (The Mindy Project, Speechless). He executive produces with Daveed Diggs, Jamie Tarses, Scott Stuber, Dylan Clark and James Griffiths, with the latter on board to direct. ABC Studios and Bluegrass FanFare produce. The project centers on an outspoken, idealistic rapper who runs for office as a publicity stunt. When he actually gets elected, he surprises everyone (including himself) when he has a natural knack for the job and slowly transforms City Hall.
ABC's START UP
- The network has also ordered a pilot for single camera comedy Start Up starring Scrubs alum Zach Braff. Matt Tarses wrote the pilot, which will also be directed by Braff. They executive produce with John Davis, John Fox, Chris Giliberti, Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber. Sony Pictures Television, Davis Entertainment and Gimlet Media produces. Based on the podcast of the same name, the project revolves around Alex Schuman (Braff), an inquisitive journalist, husband and father who dives headfirst into the brave new world of entrepreneurship when he quits his stable job and starts his own business.
WGN AMERICA's ROADSIDE PICNIC
- The cable channel has passed on its drama pilot Roadside Picnic based on the novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. The pilot was written by Jack Paglen and directed by Alan Taylor. They executive produced with Vivian Cannon and Neil Moritz. Tribune Studios, Sony Pictures Television and Original Film produced. The project was set in a near-future world where aliens have come and gone. Humankind is left to explore the wondrous and dangerous mysteries left behind as well as the societal ramifications of their visit. The cast included Matthew Goode, W. Earl Brown, Michael Lindall, Felisha Terrell, Martin Donovan, Osi Okerafor and Chloe Coleman.
